Round 1 - Brands Hatch GP - Angus Whiteside

19 brand-new Ginetta G56 GTA’s took to the track around the Grand Prix layout, There were a trio of different winners in the rookie class, as Gilbert Yates, Angus Whiteside and Ravi Ramyead shared the spoils.

Ramyead produced a hugely impressive performance to top the timesheets for a spell before finishing third quickest, just three thousandths of a second ahead of (4th) as the rookie contenders established themselves towards the front of the pack from the off.

After a dry qualifying session, the field were greeted with a heavy rain shower just as they kicked off the opening race on Saturday.

A slow start lost Whiteside ground, while a spin at Paddock Hill Bend dropped Ramyead to the rear of the field.

The early issues for the rookie top two opened the door for Darren Leung to assume the class lead. In-between the two safety car periods there was a change though, as Yates got ahead to eventually take the win in fourth overall, with Whiteside recovering to second ahead of Leung.

The first of two races on Sunday began with a fast-starting Alderslade taking the race lead from pole-sitter Trice and Whiteside, who himself rose from fifth to third. Ramyead joined them to make it a four way battle for the lead in the early stages.

After a few laps, the racing was halted for a lengthy safety car period. This set up a grandstand finish with only two laps remaining when the action restarted.

An opportunistic Whiteside made daring move up the inside of turn one for second and the rookie win, with Alderslade just fending off Ramyead for third in a photo-finish.

The final race of the weekend saw a lightning getaway from Ramyead promote him from fourth to the race lead heading into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time, with Trice in hot pursuit. Behind, an incident in the battle for third led to Yates and Whiteside retiring, and a safety car period.

All in all it was a fabulous debut for Whiteside in his first ever season of car racing.